1980 NBL Finals
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (June 2020) |
| 1980 NBL Finals | |
|---|---|
| League | National Basketball League |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Duration | 14–15 June |
| Number of teams | 4 |
| TV partner(s) | ABC |
| Grand Final | |
| Champions | St Kilda Saints |
| Runners-up | West Adelaide Bearcats |
| Grand Final MVP | Rocky Smith |
The 1980 NBL Finals was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball League's 1980 season, which began in February. The finals began on 14 June. The tournament concluded with the minor premiers St Kilda Saints defeating the second-seeded West Adelaide Bearcats in the NBL Grand Final on 15 June. Rocky Smith was named NBL Grand Final MVP.
Format
The NBL finals series in 1980 consisted of two semi-final games, and one championship-deciding grand final. The finals were contested between the top four teams of the regular season, with the finals weekend hosted at the neutral Dowling Street Stadium in Launceston, Tasmania.
Qualification
Qualified teams
| Team | Finals appearance |
Previous appearance |
Previous best performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Kilda Saints | 1st | N/A | N/A (1979 Grand Final winners) |
| West Adelaide Bearcats | 1st | N/A | N/A |
| Brisbane Bullets | 1st | N/A | N/A |
| Nunawading Spectres | 1st | N/A | N/A |
Ladder
| Pos | 1980 NBL season | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Pld | W | L | PCT | Last 5 | Streak | Home | Away | PF | PA | PP | |
| 1 | St. Kilda Saints1 | 22 | 17 | 5 | 77.27% | 4–1 | L1 | 9–2 | 8–3 | 2109 | 1886 | 111.82% |
| 2 | West Adelaide Bearcats1 | 22 | 17 | 5 | 77.27% | 4–1 | W3 | 10–1 | 7–4 | 1941 | 1773 | 109.48% |
| 3 | Brisbane Bullets | 22 | 15 | 7 | 68.18% | 5–0 | W5 | 9–2 | 6–5 | 1928 | 1780 | 108.31% |
| 4 | Nunawading Spectres | 22 | 14 | 8 | 63.64% | 2–3 | W2 | 8–3 | 6–5 | 1660 | 1580 | 105.06% |
| 5 | Illawarra Hawks2 | 22 | 13 | 9 | 59.09% | 2–3 | L3 | 5–6 | 8–3 | 1798 | 1790 | 100.45% |
| 6 | Newcastle Falcons2 | 22 | 13 | 9 | 59.09% | 5–0 | W5 | 6–5 | 7–4 | 1828 | 1794 | 101.90% |
| 7 | Canberra Cannons | 22 | 11 | 11 | 50.00% | 0–5 | L5 | 8–3 | 3–8 | 1661 | 1631 | 101.84% |
| 8 | Launceston Casino City | 22 | 9 | 13 | 40.91% | 3–2 | W1 | 6–5 | 3–8 | 1863 | 1889 | 98.62% |
| 9 | Coburg Giants3 | 22 | 7 | 15 | 31.82% | 1-4 | L2 | 5–6 | 2–9 | 1727 | 1740 | 99.25% |
| 10 | City of Sydney Astronauts3 | 22 | 7 | 15 | 31.82% | 1–4 | W1 | 5–6 | 2–9 | 1717 | 1908 | 89.99% |
| 11 | West Torrens Eagles | 22 | 6 | 16 | 27.27% | 1–4 | L2 | 6–5 | 0–11 | 1707 | 1940 | 87.99% |
| 12 | Bankstown Bruins | 22 | 3 | 19 | 13.64% | 0–5 | L13 | 2–9 | 1–10 | 1721 | 1949 | 88.30% |
Updated to match(es) played on 8 June 1980. Source: NBL.com.au
Bracket
| Semi Finals | Grand Final | ||||||||
| 1 | St Kilda Saints | 101 | |||||||
| 4 | Nunawading Spectres | 77 | |||||||
| 1 | St Kilda Saints | 113 | |||||||
| 2 | West Adelaide Bearcats | 88 | |||||||
| 2 | West Adelaide Bearcats | 101 | |||||||
| 3 | Brisbane Bullets | 94 | |||||||
Semi Finals
(1) St Kilda Saints vs (4) Nunawading Spectres
14 June
|
| St Kilda Saints 101, Nunawading Spectres 77 | ||
| Pts: Rocky Smith 32 | Pts: Gary Fox 21 | |
Dowling Street Stadium, Launceston
Referees: John Holden, David Turner |
(3) Brisbane Bullets vs (2) West Adelaide Bearcats
14 June
|
| Brisbane Bullets 94, West Adelaide Bearcats 101 | ||
| Pts: Michael Haddow 33 | Pts: Rick Hodges 31 | |
Dowling Street Stadium, Launceston
Referees: Eddie Crouch, Geoff Weeks |
Grand Final
(2) West Adelaide Bearcats vs (1) St Kilda Saints
15 June
|
| West Adelaide Bearcats 88, St Kilda Saints 113 | ||
| Pts: Rick Hodges 27 | Pts: Rocky Smith 26 | |
| St Kilda wins the NBL Championship Grand Final MVP: Rocky Smith | ||
Dowling Street Stadium, Launceston
Referees: John Holden, Eddie Crouch |